Steve was born in Abilene, Texas, the son of Betty Peters and Donal V. Allison. His parents divorced when he was young and he took the last name of Lantz when his mother married his step-father. He attended North Park Elementary and Mann Junior High School in Abilene. During his senior year, he moved to Big Spring to live with his grandparents and enrolled at Big Spring High School and graduated in May 1967. He immediately joined the U.S. Army in June 1967 after graduation using Abilene as his home of record and his legal name of Allison. He completed basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana and entered medic training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Senior Picture 1967

He married Helen Glee Webb of Big Spring while home on leave after his training and about three months before he departed for Vietnam. His wife remained in Big Spring and was in her senior year at Big Spring High School. He began his tour in Vietnam on November 22, 1967. He was initially assigned to Headquarters and and A. First Medical Battalion, First Infantry Divison and then after TET he was reassigned as a medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. He was killed by multiple fragmentation wounds while engaged in hostile action on July 9, 1968 while performing his duties as a medic with E Troop, 2nd Squadron. He was initially reported as Missing Action and his remains were not discovered for two days.

He was buried with full military honors in the Elmwood Memorial Park Cemetery in Abilene, Texas. He was survived by his wife of Big Spring, his parents, Mr and Mrs. John A. Lantz of Abilene and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Peters of Big Spring. His grandfather was the general manager of the Settles Hotel in Big Spring at that time.

His friend from Abilene, Rex Townsley indicated that when they were young boys and in the Boy Scouts, they decided to have their own Tom Sawyer adventure by running away and by floating down the Brazos River. He indicated they had not gotten too far when they were caught up with by the Sheriff's Department and returned home. He indicated it was not that they were unhappy at home, they had just sought to have some excitement. He indicated Steve was creative and was an excellent artist, had a wonderful sense of humor and was fun to be around. He never complained.